Caring for an Orphan Foal

Though we don’t want to think about it happening, there are times when a foal becomes an orphan.  The mare may refuse the foal, or something more tragic happens.  First-foal mares are more likely to refuse their foal at first, but most of the time, she will accept her foal after a bit of time has passed and some work done by the owner. In either case, it is important to get colostrum into the newborn foal as soon after birth as possible to start building up the foal’s immune system. Most people don’t think about harvesting and storing colostrum from mares that have just foaled, but freezing some of this can be very valuable for an orphaned foal.

If a foal is orphaned, get the colostrum in ASAP as mentioned.  Once that is done, the foal must be taught to drink milk replacer from a bucket.  This is another item to keep on hand or to get very soon after receiving the orphan.  Mix the milk replacer according to label instructions, make sure it is warmed to body temperature, and get started teaching the foal to drink from the bucket.  Get some of the milk replacer on the fingers and let the foal taste the milk.  Gradually lead the foal’s mouth to the surface of the milk replacer, and hopefully it will realize that the milk replacer can be drunk right from the bucket.  Milk replacer can also be mixed and placed in bottles with large nipples such as those used for calves to get them started drinking, but at some point, transferring them to a bucket and drinking on their own will ease the work load a bit.  The majority of foals will start drinking after 2 or 3 offerings.  Most foals will drink small amounts frequently, so keep a small, continual supply ready.  If one is available, a “nurse mare” will work if there is a mare in early lactation of suitable temperament.

Offer a soft pelleted feed within a few weeks after birth in order to get the orphaned foal used to eating grain. Depending on grain consumption, foals can be weaned off milk replacer at around two months of age.

Housing orphaned foals near other horses will help reduce stress levels.  Also, a companion animal such as a goat has been used successfully to further reduce stress in orphans.  Management of orphans should encourage moving the orphaned foal in to contact with other foals as soon as possible.  Contact with other foals will increase grain consumption and will provide an equine companion for stress reduction.  After two or three months, most orphans can be placed with other foals who are being weaned.

This information and more on the foaling mare, care of the foal after birth, and weaning foals is available at http://articles.extension.org/pages/29126/horse-foaling-management-guidelines.